My Nihilism Got Me Laid?!

My eyes scan the surrounding area in a panic. Jungle, jungle, jungle, where was it? Fortunately, I trained with speed as the focus, meaning I can run at least 65 miles per hour for long distances.

But before I can take a step forward, I hear an ominous thudding behind me.

Whipping around, I barely have time to react as a fist flies towards my face.

A fucking kangaroo!?

Its punch drives into my skull, temporarily discombobulating me.

I- how- WHAT! How does one even fight a kangaroo!?

Not even giving my face a second to heal, the creature is already going in for another strike.

The ravish beast tries every tool in its eco tool box, biting, clawing. It uses anything it can to try to beat me down.

Lunging at me, it manages to grip onto my clothes with its forepaws, jumping up it using its full weight of those compressed leg muscles to kick me in the stomach.

I am sent flying backwards as I am thrown off my feet.

"Mothe- Fuccc you!" Gasping for air, I wheeze as I hold my hand on my chest. The living spring managed to hit my diaphragm and do so with the force of a truck.

Picking myself up, I realize that would have killed the average person. Before I can even make a death threat to the non conscious creature, it lunges at me, driving its buckteeth into my arms.

As it bites, it continues kicking and punching me, its actions are uncalculated and unpredictable, but its weight compensates for its rabid attacks.

The more it drives me back, the more ticked off I become. I'm sick of being bullied by an animal.

As it clenches its jaw on my forearm, I wind my fist back, focusing my strength into my biceps, triceps and shoulders, I punch into its head.

My fist makes contact, creating a deafening crack. The kangaroo's grip is released as it staggers backwards. While I definitely broke a bone in its jaw as the lower section dangles. But, its not down, if anything, it looks even more aggressive now.

That doesn't matter, I just needed this one break. Taking a deep breath, I focus my strength on my legs before bolting forward.

My eyes scan the surrounding area, beside the entrance is the corpse of a girl who had attempted to claw her way out the exit, but was ambushed.

Beside her headless corpse is a sword...

Holding the barred metal door, I focus my strength into my arm, hold it up like a shield. Grabbing the sword from the ground, I'm kitted out like a homeless knight.

I was prepared to fight humans, but what the fuck am I going to do against an animal? My strength won't kill them if I'm a glass cannon.

At least the training with Dissiri is paying off. All of that leg tearing and sprinting allows me to make the journey without needing to stop. Even so, as I run through the various biomes, zooming by the animals as they strike at me, all around me is screaming, desperate pleas to be saved.

But I can only save one, there is only one. Why was she the one to be chosen? Why is she the one out of all of these lives that will be discarded to be saved... then again, will I even be able to save her? Or will she be another scream that goes unheard in this forest?

Finally reaching the jungle, I can't get an exact ping on her location, my vision is obstructed by the foliage. Focusing my strength into my calves, I spiring myself up into the arm, allowing me to get a better view.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see her purple hair through the tree line. She is still alive, and with the group.

With an exhale of relief, I can't help but feel relieved at this one crumb of good news in this dead zone.

The are only 100 meters from me, and they even have animal corpses around them, meaning they were able to do something.

The moment of rest is interrupted by a growling. The three other members of Rivens group all begin to back up.

From the foliage a jet black panther creeps out, its bloodshot yellow eyes dark around, its steps shaky, but even under the influence of rabies its steps make no noise.

Riven's three teammates begin running away, leaving Riven alone.

Whipping her head around, her eyes widen as she finally notices they have ditched her. But as she turns to run, one of her teammates throws a star at her leg, causing her to immediately fall to her knees.

The panther takes no pity in the betrayal as it doesn't stop its advance, lurking towards Riven as she now lies on the ground.

Her chest rises and falls as her breathing hastens. Yet panic is only temporary, despite facing certain death, she pulls out a sword from her back sheath with conviction. With narrow eyes, her intent to live is directed at the only obstacle of such a path.

In a split second, the panther lunges at her. Before it's even in the air, I'm already in motion.

Moments away from clawing at her, I hold up the makeshift metal door shield and body check the large cat.

The carried force sends the panther flying and rolling into the grass.

Riven's eyes widen, but now with joy, as the candle has been relit. Her voice trembles as she shakes her head, as though this were just a hallucination. "Gr...Graves? Why are you here?!"

"I started doing some online shopping... do you think I would look better in a maroon or blue swimsuit?" (⩌_⩌) I'm here to save you obviously!?

The panther interrupts our reunion as it picks itself back up.

Regaining its stance, it growls at us. Crouching down, it prepares to lunge at us.

"Riven, get back!" I command, throwing my hand out.

As it lunges up, a large creature suddenly side swipes it, tackling it to the ground.

They howl and hiss at one another as their claws dig into one another's fur. But the fight it violently one sided. Sinking its teeth into the nape of the panther, the colossal Siberian tiger almost instantly kills the panther.

Having gained full sight of the creature, I realize, due to the size and colorful patterns of the creature, what it truly is... a Siberian tiger. With its rugged mane, the creature must be at least 600 pounds.

The colossal cat begins chowing down on the corpse of the panther. Its sharp teeth violently rip and tear into the once horrifying pelt of the panther. The tiger has no dignity in its method of consumption, simply pulling and yanking the meat apart without even chewing it.

If this were a normal tiger, I could easily buy Riven enough time. Staring at the tiger and slowly backing away, it would at least be hesitant before attacking.

Animals often overestimate that which they don't know, thus they overestimate the abilities of humans, despite their overwhelming strength.

But this uncertainty, this fear of the unknown, is lost in this tiger's eyes, instead it's been bestowed upon me.

Even so, Im not defenseless; holding up the shield, I prepare my looted sword in the other.

Tackling a panther is one thing, but this huge Siberian tiger is another, it looks at though its at least 600 pounds.

Somehow, even with rabies, the tiger controls its movements, not a single step shakey nor overly ambitious, it begins circling around us, eyeing Riven as she attempts to stand on her bleeding leg.

Despite its infected brain, it still knows how to hunt, focusing on the weakened, waiting for an opening.

I refuse to show even a moment of weakness.

because this animal fails to realize...

At this moment, it sees us as prey, a victim,

But I refuse to lose my spot on the food chain.

I will kill it.

Instead, I make the first step. Using my built up muscle, I explode off my right foot, cutting the distance between myself and the tiger.

The rabies seemed to have worked in my favor, as the creature reacts rather plans its attack, aimlessly striking at me.

Its claws drive into my flesh, slicing through my skin like wet paper. That burning feeling of being cut sears into my body.

Wincing, I attempt to step back through the pain.

The rabies seem to have spread further into the animal's brain, as its steps have lost their finesse.

Flexing my core, the slash marks across my stomach begin to fold, repairing themselves, allowing the bleeding to stop.

Once more, facing off against the creature, its eyes have changed, the creature truly is rabid now. Its heavy panting has become visible as a single low monotone growl echos off the trees.

I'm not sure how this whole healing factor works with viral diseases, whether it constantly heals or if it heals my body to a certain state of health. But I don't have time to think about that as the rabid animal is already lunging at me for the next strike.